Hello everyone!
Transfer news came in this morning, and I'm staying put! I get to spend another transfer with Elder Leavitt!
It's going to be a good transfer coming up. I started back up journaling properly on Friday, so you might notice extra stuff about the weekend.
Well, I guess I'd better start talking about my week.
On Tuesday, Elder Leavitt had to go to a Mission Leadership Council meeting, so I was with an elder named Elder Langdon. We went and did some service for an inactive member we found last week. Apparently, she hasn't been to church in quite a while because she had some bad experiences. We cleaned up all her leaves and put them in a trash can, which took surprisingly long. By the time we were done, Elder Leavitt and Elder Langdon's companion were back. Later that night, we taught Elissa, a recent convert, about tithing and fast offerings.
Wednesday was fairly uneventful..... Oh Well!
Thursday, we had an awesome lesson with a part member family, the Garrett's. They seemed super interested in learning more, so we're going back this coming week. Funny story: we showed up at the Garrett's home, and their 11 year old was standing outside to welcome us and offer us refreshments. He had a pretty snazzy hat as well.
On Friday, we had Zone meeting, and Elder Leavitt lead a Practice Teach about door approaches. He split it up to show the importance of each part.
Sister McCombie also bore her closing testimony at the meeting, which was kind of sad. She has been in my zone my entire mission, and I'm going to miss her encouragement all the time. Hopefully, I can email her sometimes, and hear how she's doing.
Just before dinner, we street contacted this guy who told us we were wrong to believe that God has a physical body, which was kind of weird. I am continually amazed at how blindly some people follow their ministers. Many don't even understand what is actually in the Bible!
Later, we talk to Eric, a man who seems to believe a Lutheran doctrine about no agency. We need to be ready to help him understand that we do good things both because it pleases God, but also because we know they make us happy. God does NOT make our choices for us!
Sister McCombie also bore her closing testimony at the meeting, which was kind of sad. She has been in my zone my entire mission, and I'm going to miss her encouragement all the time. Hopefully, I can email her sometimes, and hear how she's doing.
Just before dinner, we street contacted this guy who told us we were wrong to believe that God has a physical body, which was kind of weird. I am continually amazed at how blindly some people follow their ministers. Many don't even understand what is actually in the Bible!
Later, we talk to Eric, a man who seems to believe a Lutheran doctrine about no agency. We need to be ready to help him understand that we do good things both because it pleases God, but also because we know they make us happy. God does NOT make our choices for us!
Saturday was a good day.
I was on exchanges with Elder Flynn all day. We had a good time, driving through the desert and talking with people.
We talked to a man named Greg Hitchcock , who was a real upfront and smart guy. He's had a lot of troubles, having been at Ground Zero of 9/11, a Marine in Iraq, among other stuff. He's cool though, and is on a path to get a baptismal recommend.
We also visited a man who talked about how he's not a big fan of Christianity because the Bible is so hard to understand, and says that due to changing usage of words, we misinterpret it a lot.
Finally, we visited Joe and PJay Evans, who played a trick on me. When we entered, PJay had us put on gloves. She then told me that her dog had leprosy, so we can't touch him, or else she'll have to use some special wash to stop us from getting it. As soon as we walked into the main room, she picked up the dog and put him in my arms. I quickly put the dog down and it hobbled off. She then went on for a couple minutes about how they have to take a bunch of precautions and take medicine to prevent getting leprosy. By now, I was thoroughly freaked out, so she told me that it was all a joke. Still, who does that?!? Elder Flynn busted out laughing. Apparently, they did it to him the first time he'd been there, and got super mad. We had a good laugh.
I was on exchanges with Elder Flynn all day. We had a good time, driving through the desert and talking with people.
We talked to a man named Greg Hitchcock , who was a real upfront and smart guy. He's had a lot of troubles, having been at Ground Zero of 9/11, a Marine in Iraq, among other stuff. He's cool though, and is on a path to get a baptismal recommend.
We also visited a man who talked about how he's not a big fan of Christianity because the Bible is so hard to understand, and says that due to changing usage of words, we misinterpret it a lot.
Finally, we visited Joe and PJay Evans, who played a trick on me. When we entered, PJay had us put on gloves. She then told me that her dog had leprosy, so we can't touch him, or else she'll have to use some special wash to stop us from getting it. As soon as we walked into the main room, she picked up the dog and put him in my arms. I quickly put the dog down and it hobbled off. She then went on for a couple minutes about how they have to take a bunch of precautions and take medicine to prevent getting leprosy. By now, I was thoroughly freaked out, so she told me that it was all a joke. Still, who does that?!? Elder Flynn busted out laughing. Apparently, they did it to him the first time he'd been there, and got super mad. We had a good laugh.
Sunday, we taught mission prep at 7am. We talked about the laws of justice and mercy, and showed the video "The Mediator". Then we had them practice teaching these principles. It was really interesting to be on the other side of such a class. After all, I was in those various classes not too long ago
During one of our wards, there were 3 baby blessings! It was pretty cool. I joked that the Ward was creating more membership records than us. Elder Leavitt responded that we should step up our game.
Later we had lunch with a potential named Rhett. He was kinda weird. He bought pizza for us on a Sunday, which we were kinda sad about, but it was super good. We also taught about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What made it funny and weird was that it took forever because he had to keep reexplaining things to his wife, who's hard of hearing.
We had dinner with the Grover family that night, and their home teachers showed up! Elder Leavitt laughed because for the first time in 21 months, he got to receive a dinner message!
During one of our wards, there were 3 baby blessings! It was pretty cool. I joked that the Ward was creating more membership records than us. Elder Leavitt responded that we should step up our game.
Later we had lunch with a potential named Rhett. He was kinda weird. He bought pizza for us on a Sunday, which we were kinda sad about, but it was super good. We also taught about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What made it funny and weird was that it took forever because he had to keep reexplaining things to his wife, who's hard of hearing.
We had dinner with the Grover family that night, and their home teachers showed up! Elder Leavitt laughed because for the first time in 21 months, he got to receive a dinner message!
Yesterday was work day Monday, because Transfers are on Wednesday. We had a weird schedule. We were originally going to be helping a potential investigator clean her garage, but that fell through so we finished studies.
Later, after lunch, we made a stop at the church to help some other elders with iPad issues. Then we went to the library so Elder Leavitt could do some stuff relating to some work he's doing for President Griffin.
That evening, we stopped by a few former investigators. One had a friend nearby who's a minister at a United Congregational Church. We talked with her about the gospel we share, and gave her a card so that she can get a free Book of Mormon from her local missionaries in Ohio.
Another instance was when we ran into a part member family who we thought lived the next house over. Luckily, we were inspired to knock on the right door! They're interested in hearing from us!
Later, after lunch, we made a stop at the church to help some other elders with iPad issues. Then we went to the library so Elder Leavitt could do some stuff relating to some work he's doing for President Griffin.
That evening, we stopped by a few former investigators. One had a friend nearby who's a minister at a United Congregational Church. We talked with her about the gospel we share, and gave her a card so that she can get a free Book of Mormon from her local missionaries in Ohio.
Another instance was when we ran into a part member family who we thought lived the next house over. Luckily, we were inspired to knock on the right door! They're interested in hearing from us!
Well, that's my week. It's been fun and long.
Feel free to send me mail and letters and stuff! My Mom can give you my address!
Keep Hauling that Water,
Elder Joseph Richardson
I have a bunch of pictures this week.
1.The Zone Award we received for giving solid help to our Zone in our goals last month.
2. Some former missionary from our mission put this on the board...... somehow, he knew we'd be teaching mission prep.....
3-6. A member made me a special oil vial! It's super cool!
7. My "Drawing board"
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